This instant New York Times bestseller from the author of The Summer Guests is set on the Isle of Palms and offers “magical depictions of the lowcountry and the charms of her characters” (Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author) in a breathtaking novel that recounts one family’s summer of forging new beginnings against the enduring beauty and resilience of the natural world. It’s … beginnings against the enduring beauty and resilience of the natural world.
It’s been sixteen years since Caretta “Cara” Rutledge has returned home to the beautiful shores of Charleston, South Carolina. Over those years, she has weathered the tides of deaths and births, struggles and joys. And now, as Cara prepares for her second wedding, her life is about to change yet again.
Meanwhile, the rest of the storied Rutledge family is also in flux. Cara’s niece Linnea returns to Sullivan’s Island to begin a new career and an unexpected relationship. Linnea’s parents, having survived bankruptcy, pin their hopes and futures on the construction of a new home on Ocean Boulevard. But as excitement over the house and wedding builds, a devastating illness strikes the family and brings plans to a screeching halt. It is under these trying circumstances that the Rutledge family must come together yet again to discover the enduring strength in love, tradition, and legacy from mother to daughter to granddaughter.
Like the sea turtles that come ashore annually on these windswept islands, three generations of the Rutledge family experience a season of return, rebirth, and growth. “A heartwarming story of lowcountry love, loyalty, and longstanding friendships” (Booklist), On Ocean Boulevard is Mary Alice Monroe at her very best.
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I’ve read all the previous books in this series so I was excited to have the chance to read an early copy. It was like visiting old friends once again. It touched on some current issues. It felt true to her previous ones in this series.
I loved it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
This is the story of generations of the Rutledge women who are on the cusp of a new beginning. A marriage, a new career and a heartbreaking illness are woven into the story of Cara, Linnea and Flo. New friends, a new romance and a fulfilling of a love well deserved are all here on Sullivan’s Island.
Mary Alice Monroe writes of traditions, secrets, love and of relationships that are broken with the hope they can be healed.
The snippets she writes of the turtles nesting and the Turtle Ladies that watch for their hatching are not only a lesson in environmental issues, but also of traditions that have lasted years,
On Ocean Boulevard is a book to read, to remember and to share with others. Thank you Net Galley and the Publisher for an early copy of this book. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
This is a wonderful book! As usual, Mary Alice Monroe weaves a wonderful story of family relations, personal revelations, friendships, real-life issues, some romance, some drama, and information about important concerns in today’s world. Her Beach Cottage series centers around protecting loggerhead sea turtles and I have learned so much, all while being captivated by the ongoing story of the characters. Her characters are realistic; there are strong women and those learning to be strong, and the men they love, all dealing with real issues in love and life. I always come away from her stories wanting more. I highly recommend it!
I just love visiting South Carolina with the turtles, Rutledge family and summer time!
Of course I went with the thought of attending a wedding that almost did not happen!
There is a bit of everything in this novel of love, fear,friendship, and family.
A wonderfully descriptive story that had me wishing for suntan lotion, sweet tea and a beach chair!
Perfect!
10 wonderful stars! MAM takes us back to the beloved Primrose Cottage with all the characters we grew to love over the years. So much love and emotion and coming off age and new beginnings. And the turtles!!! So many lessons to learn in this book about plastic and dangers to the turtles. I could really feel Lovie in this book; smiling down on her beloved family. There is even an appearance of a friend from Sea Breeze from other novels. This is MAM at her best. I give it a standing ovation. I sat my Kindle down after the last page with a tear in my eye and a smile on my face.
Thanks to Gallery Books for offering me the Netgalley ARC.
On Ocean Boulevard by author Mary Alice Monroe highlights the second chance at love and a new marriage for Cara Rutledge. This book can easily be read as a stand-alone novel, but fans of the generations of Rutledge Family drama will enjoy reading about much loved characters. Several events are happening on Sullivan’s Island during this season. Most of the book is about life situations as the generations age and grow. Emmi is helping Cara to finalize her wedding plans, Linnea returns with a broken spirit and questions about her future, and the current turtle team seems to be stronger than ever. Most of the story is focused on Cara as she gets ready for her wedding. The trip to Kleinfield’s in New York for Cara to “Say Yes to the Dress” is magical! Family bonds for Linnea with her father and mother come full circle for an acceptance of past problems and a new direction for Julia. It is sad to visit with Flo and learn of how tenuous living has become for her during this age in her life. Poor little Hope has an unexpected crisis and brings Cara and David to the brink of break-up.
The reader will recognize names of a few characters from other series and will meet new friends as an ever expanding community. The book content has a bit of character background and turtle nesting review as in other books in this series.
Publication Date: May 19, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I absolutely loved this story! It tells of two generations of Rutledge women navigating the ups and downs of their lives, ultimately coming to their own perfect solutions.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader’s copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
Once again I was drawn into this book and it was like watching a movie, I could see it in my head all that was happening. I was very drawn to Cara, she is such a strong person and knows how she wants her life to be yet she has trouble telling only one person, her soon to be husband. I just loved this book and it is more then just a “beach read” it has depth and a life of its own.
On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe was an absolutely wonderful summer beach read. The characters were charming, realistic and likable. I learned a lot about the history an culture of Charleston, SC. What enchanted me the most was the history of sea turtles. This is a story of illness, struggle, love and most of all family and friends who become family. In my opinion, it was very well written and I rated it a five.
On Ocean Boulevard is a story of family, new beginnings, and learning to live in the present. As with all of Monroe’s books, her interest in the environment shines through this novel. In this book every chapter starts with a fact about sea turtles. There is also a lot of information about how pollution – especially plastic – in the ocean hurts the turtles and other sea creatures. Overall the book was predictable, the characters still the same, and the new characters really didn’t bring anything to the story.
Really good book. I always enjoy Mary Alice Monroe.
It was my first Mary Alice Monroe book, and I must say I was a little disappointed. It’s a light beach read with a nice story, but to me some characters and situations were lost in the plot. The setting is what attracted me at first, Charleston and region, and the descriptions of the place are well done . To me though, the most important part of the book was the raising of consciousness about loggerheads and pollution. It deserves 1 more star for that reason alone.
Lowcountry summer living at its finest.
Cara’s life is coming together while raising her daughter and planning a wedding. When the unthinkable happens, her life spirals out of control, and she’s picking up the pieces while deciding her future, questioning her upcoming marriage, the cottage, and more.
Linnea’s back home and starting over. Thanks to Cara, her new job brings purpose as well as fulfilling her family’s legacy with the sea turtles. An unexpected romance completes her summer as they share time together before he must leave for England.
Both women are finding a new way of life while still finding time for family and life on Ocean Boulevard.
A wonderful story in this endearing series set in the coastal South Carolina Lowcountry.
**received an ARC on Netgalley**
Mary Alice Monroe’s books transport me to the Low Country of South Carolina and her love of the area shines through in her writing. The latest in the Beach House series brings us back to Primrose Cottage in Isle of Palms and the sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach. Cara Rutledge, the main character in this series, is engaged to be married and her brother Palmer is rebuilding his life and is Cara’s business partner in building a beach house. Palmer’s daughter Linnea has also returned to the Low Country to re-start her life. I loved seeing where the characters in this book would end up by the end and also enjoy all of the information on the sea turtles and the conservation efforts to protect them. This book can be read as a stand alone, but all of the books in this series are wonderful.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Mary Alice Monroe takes us along the continuing journey at the beach. A family who sticks together no matter what, are filled with love and just enough crazy to make them so much fun. Cara is back on Primrose Lane. So much has happened. She married a wonderful man, became a widow and a mom. Falling in love and getting married again was not on her list of things to do and yet…. She wants a nice quiet intimate wedding with her nearest and dearest only. That is so not what happens. Linnea comes back home feeling like life has knocked her down yet again and not knowing how to rebound other than to go home to regroup and move forward. A beautifully written story of love, laughter, dealing with illness as a family and figuring out this crazy thing we call life. And turtles. Lots and lots of turtle!!
I have read a few of Mary Alice Monroe’s books and love them for a summer read! I’m sorry I haven’t read all of the books in this series ahead of this one and feel like I need to go back and get caught up. I listened to this one and looked for audio of the first in the series and couldn’t find it. Is there an audio version I hope? They are great to listen to while walking.
I love when an author weaves topics into the story that educate. In this case I was happy to learn a number of facts about the Loggerhead Turtles. Since I don’t live anywhere near the coast this was interesting to know. Hopefully someday I can visit – maybe on Ocean Boulevard?
On Ocean Boulevard (the Beach House) by Mary Alice Monroe was a fantastic beach read and I really enjoyed it. Some of the original characters but a little older. Linnea has had her relationship disintegrate and has moved back home from California and Cara is about to get married again. Linea’s parents are continuing to undergo some rough patches. The one thing that has not changed is the sea turtles. Love, romance, family, changes, forgiveness are all a part of theis new book from Ms. Monroe.
Great book
I love all her books her characters are human and funny and the sense of family is great
It is probably the 3rd or4th book with the characters. Beach read. Love it!